Tour of the Midwest Automotive Designs Passage MD4 Van

[@hippiechick_fl]

Thanks for taking the time to do these reviews and share them! The more reviews I see of Class B vans (both commercial and custom) - as a part-timer the more I am coming to the idea of going with an AWD minivan that I can toss a sleeping bag, portable fridge/hotplate, and portable toilet in and hit the road whenever the mood takes me. A Toyota Sienna hybrid would give you the ability for safe overnight cliimate control as well - and get almost 40 mpg! While many of these Class Bs are undeniably cool - the more I've realized that most of the "features" would be so wasted on me! I just wouldn't be spending enough waking hours in it to make it worth the money - I'm a hiker and kayaker, and if it's daylight and the weather's even remotely decent - I'll be outside. Living full time in one would definitely be another whole thought process - but at that price point, I'd go custom and get everything to my specs, rather than TVs and massage chairs I'd never use. Guess that's what makes the world go 'round, though - different strokes for different folks! Again, thanks! These reviews really have helped me realize what I need and don't need - before I made a rash decision!

[@13redwoodlaneusa7]

The one thing I love about your channel is the pure passion you two deliver. I can hear it in your voice inflections and see it in your expressions. While I’m not a van guy, I can appreciate your love for them. This van rates a 7 for me. Why? Cause it’s a princess. Take it out in the desert for two weeks boondocking and watch it cry like a baby when things stop working. Give me a high stepping warrior van from beyond thunder dome so I can drive it over hill and dell. A soldier that feels right at home with the scorpions and rattle snakes. Then maybe I’ll consider a van. That one says…”let’s go for ice cream in the park. I want a van that eats road kill is at home with Mad max. 😂

[@Vancaskeys]

Haha! This is awesome!

[@markniblett4857]

Thanks guys. That thing is really nice BUT.... I will need the Vancaskeys publishers warehouse discount.

[@Vancaskeys]

Hahaha!

[@JoseMendoza-gq1bx]

Coincidence your video popped up my feed. We're heading to La Mesa to pick ours up tomorrow. Nice vid!

[@Vancaskeys]

Oh funny! Hope you enjoy it!

[@pnwrving9841]

How many times can Bob say "nice" in a video!! Everything is nice... nice storage,nice tv, nice window, nice sink etc etc!!

[@Vancaskeys]

Haha! Agree!

[@AnthonyWilbanks-l5h]

When you are in luxury , it's hard not to say "nice" about things you are reviewing . Great job Bob 😊

[@TRAVISMSNIDER1]

Glad you had a chance to see a van from Midwest. We love our Patriot on the AWD Ford Transit.

[@Vancaskeys]

Sweet!

[@TraderChick]

I dunno I’m totally loving the extra comfy chairs. Massages? Heating? Yes please! Love the outside how everything is hidden. 10/10 outside, Bob has spoken 💯💯💯

[@Vancaskeys]

👏👏👏

[@Vantravel411]

Great review! I have a 2023 Patriot 144 4x4 w freedom pkg , has just the 2 seats, and a lighter interior. I have driven 33,000 miles in 14 months all over the US. No issues, great stealth traveler … the freedom pkg is awesome to boondock and use AC for 8-10 hrs… then just drive and recharge… solar helps too. Something you missed … the macerator for “dumping” is practically automatic, and the awning is really beautiful with cool lighting. Midwest Auto has incredibly fun rallies!!

[@Vancaskeys]

Right on! Great info! Thanks!

[@barbaragrazerrobinson1207]

Remove 2 seats get a pantry and closet make bathroom larger. Make sure bed can be comfortable twins

[@Vancaskeys]

Agree!

[@johnthomson5730]

They make another version of the same van that only has the 2 front seats (MD2)@@Vancaskeys

[@johnnierisper]

Bob, we agree with you also because it is worth the money being that it also well put together. Yes, it is a little bit pricey but it is lovely.

[@Vancaskeys]

Thanks!

[@31186dan]

Wow that is crazy-nice. I couldn’t let the kids anywhere near it LOL!

[@Vancaskeys]

Right?! 😂

[@dwoodygura]

Really nice. Darn, I knew I should have gotten a PowerBall ticket this week!

[@Vancaskeys]

LOL!!! Same!!

[@markgoldner3083]

You guys have to review The Embassy Class B motor coach. They have a very unique RV!

[@Erica_Brenda]

IKR? Messaging chairs? OMG!

[@Vancaskeys]

👏👏👏

[@Erica_Brenda]

@@Vancaskeys hahahahaha

[@DianaMadura-x2f]

I really think you’d prefer the Pleasure Way Ontour 2.2

[@michaelburt1663]

Hands down

[@azklr]

Beautiful, love the colors!

[@timwoody3835]

I’d remove both of the extra seats and 1)extend the bed to full 80” length, 2) make a larger kitchen, 3) move the bathroom forward (to accommodate the bed) and add a full height closet. I’d also put in a lower profile air conditioner.

[@mysticalsouls]

a lot of wasted space in it isn't there, definitely not for living full time in

[@Vancaskeys]

Great ideas!!!

[@mikebreazeale2563]

Looks pretty much like a Coachmen 22C Beyond to me. The Beyond is fantastic! I bet the Beyond is cheaper???

[@Vancaskeys]

I think so!

[@joyofanimation]

Are you guys going to The Adventure Van Expo in Big Bear, CA this weekend?

[@Vancaskeys]

Sadly, no.

[@johnthomson5730]

At 6'3", the Ford Transit has the interior height, and the American Coach/Midwest Automotive Design Transit versions (they are the same), have an 82" long bed with standing headroom for me in the coach. I thought, hey, I found the van for me and the wife (she is around 5'8") when I checked one out on my own. When I took the wife to check one out, she loved the layout, but unfortunately, the bathroom layout failed the test for the wife and it went off our list (sigh). I let the marketing rep at American Coach/MAD know (he is 6'5") and he told me he passed on my review to their engineers. I think they use the same bathroom enclosure for all their Ford and Mercedes vans. So for now, our 2 top picks include the PW Ontour 2.2 and Coachmen Beyond. Keep up the great reviews and travel videos and hopefully when you settle on a new rig Mr. Lemon will be a (fond?) memory.

[@David-jo4gt]

The seat behind the drivers seat means you have unlimited adjustment of the drivers seat so tall people can drive it. That's why we bought the Roadtrek versatile 210.

[@dannidunn9302]

The reason the Midwest Design class B is so expensive is because of the quality of the build. Rarely do they have all the issues other manufacturers have. They also make a shorter version on the 144 Mercedes chassis. The macerator is fabulous! Also, they are usually outfitted with a lot of lithium.

[@jamestreanor182]

never owned one, but the quality at the shows doesnt look materially different from winnebago, grech, coachman, etc

[@barbaragrazerrobinson1207]

Good review. Thanks ❤

[@Vancaskeys]

Thanks Barbara!❤️

[@williamgildea8348]

Thank goodness it’s Wednesday. Not crazy about this van. The two extra seats take up too much space, bathroom too small, don’t need a sink in bathroom. Rather have a Travato with rear bath. This van is for people who are going on long weekends and short vacation. Not for full time living

[@Vancaskeys]

Thanks William! We have to agree with you.

[@tkasky4144]

But what is the ‘buying from LaMesa’ Bob Score 😊. Hope you can check out a Grech to compare

[@Vancaskeys]

Hahaha...not good.

[@vincecarluccio5018]

If you get a chance, check out the Midwest Automotive Legend based on the Ram Promaster. The interior quality is just as good as any of the other Midwest coaches at a much less expensive price point.

[@Vancaskeys]

Ok! Will do! Thanks!

[@bluezauza]

Beautiful earth colours combination, very luxurious. And some great ideas, the only thing I did not like is the bed setting, that does not look very comfortable to sleep in, but amazing ideas of you guys. I would also remove the extra sits and by the door install more space for food prep. Great van for weekends and vacations. And great review.

[@nejdro1]

Actually, I found the fancy stitching on the seats to be kind of dated looking, reminiscent of a 1980's travel van. Those rear automated fold down beds may provide extra seating for when it is used as a party van, but they are really terrible to sleep on unless permanently left down with a topper mattress on them.

[@bluezauza]

Oh I agree, the van is beautiful aesthetically it looks amazing, very classy but as a bed I doubt it is comfortable. It indeed will need a mattress. But that too can be versatile depending on the sort of trip the family plans. One can have a permanent bed with a better mattress for a longer trip or keep it as a living area for a short trip or visiting friends and a simple mattress for sleeping for a night. @@nejdro1

[@markweiner3896]

When is yours being delivered? My only comment is.... awning windows would be better than sliding windows..... WHY? Because when it's raining it's less likely for water to come into the cab if you crack open the window for air. I have a similar layout on my van with the power sofa and king size bed; it's a great layout. I don't know if it's really necessary for AWD.... most of these vans with the generator and all the equipment have low ground clearance and why would you risk damaging the tanks, etc. $192,000... doesn't surprise me... have you priced Roadtrek Motorhomes? Solar? Didn't see that? And, outside shower?? Are you just shopping, doing motorhome reviews or selling the vehicles now......I appreciate your sharing all the information.... Seems like it really takes $200,000 these days to get a really deluxe Class B.... My advice to people is buy a used Class B motorhome like this... you'll save a lot of money..... it's easy to find a 5 year old model and save a significant amount..... Only thing is.... maintenance on the Mercedes Benz is not inexpensive.....$1,000 per year for oil changes... and that's with an independent mechanic... listen, Mercedes Benz dealership wants $1,560 for a complete oil change without the transmission fluid service.....I'm not kidding.... Maybe you're a DIY person, but, not everyone is, and unless you know EXACTLY what you're doing, take it to a professional..... Bottom line.....the savings on the fuel economy is lost on the maintenance..... It's a beautiful ride... Mercedes Benz Sprinters have a great suspension and excellent road dynamics. You won't be disappointed by the way it drives and handles.

[@retiredandroaming]

And the most critical question of all - the yellow sticker in the driver's door jamb showing the maximum OCCC. What is it? Out of approx 20 Sprinter based chassis RVs I looked at at La Mesa recently did not provide enough cargo carrying capacity to be usable, legal or safe for two adults.

[@Vancaskeys]

Oh wow...we didn't look at that but we should have.

[@sherrieventuri5124]

Does it come in anything besides the pumpkin spice interior

[@Vancaskeys]

Yes! It come's in three colors. One is a light cream. We didn't see it in person but online it was nice.

[@nejdro1]

One of my pet peeves by today's RV's and cars is the use of flat screen panels for displaying controls. It is still forbidden in most states to have a TV visible by the driver, yet we put a large flat screen panel on the dash and require him/her to take their eyes off the road to make control adjustments. Worst, on many vehicles one must change the screen to get to more functions. This is just asking for a distraction accident! Old fashioned physical knobs and levers allow the driver to feel the control without taking their eyes ff the road for more than an instant. Further, when one of those panels malfunctions, good luck on finding a qualified technician to fix it.

[@Lt184]

I do like the clean look exterior, Interior ok though this second captains chairs wouldn’t want, not enough galley draws, that control for house stuff under the MBUX don’t like location pulls your eyes off road and down bath room not great, and those windows are great on perfect days rain one due to style make them unusable in bad weather. And if your a BLM/boondocker not ideal due to off road capabilities and length/ rear duels. But if you a on pavement rv campsites it’s not too shabby. That shower is like most Bs as you said for us 6’ plus folks. So far the halo unit in the STO seems to work for us best. As far as the over done auto electronics it’s great until it’s not more to go wrong. I try for manual above auto. Overall score for me I think 7-7.5

[@VanDoghies]

Love the review but definitely not a fan of that bed situation. Great for families but less attractive for adventure style.

[@Vancaskeys]

We agree!

[@JohnSeitz]

I think I saw you corrected it. But that didn’t have a generator. That was the exhaust for the diesel heater I believe. I believe that also has the new smaller 4 cylinder diesel. But is more powerful than the outgoing v6. Height in the shower is due to the curves of the Sprinter. But in the center it’s taller than a Promaster. American Coach (aka mid west) makes large Class A and limo cars. Just don’t forget Sprinter service isn’t cheap either but $500 for oil change and $1000 for oil and fuel filter changes every other service. But I’m not complaining as the drive is so much nicer than Ram or Ford.

[@Vancaskeys]

Yes. You are correct. I misspoke but tried to correct it on the screen, I had no idea they made limos. Wow. Great point about the service of Sprinters...it's a hefty price to pay each time.

[@JohnSeitz]

@@Vancaskeys again you did a fantastic job!!! Oil change is 20k miles though. Correction I don’t think car limo but van limo. I believe owned by Rev Group

[@twbelieves]

Remove the 2extra seats make bathroom larger and get rid of plastic

[@Vancaskeys]

👏👏👏

[@angelasoWA]

This comes in lighter color interior and you can get a model with only 2 seats! Also there is a model with a bunk bed where the bed raises to the ceiling and you can sit below it.

[@rvnut1133]

No matter who nice a van is I am not playing Tetris to go to sleep. I must have a permanent bed. Plus, van prices are ridiculous for the space, I rather go with a B+ or class C.

[@Vancaskeys]

Agree. It would be a lot of work.

[@shelbykeefe971]

Looks so dark in there!!!

[@Vancaskeys]

Yeah...we thought that too.

[@mikemanjo2458]

The colors may look different in person, but on camera, the interior is the color of baby poop.

[@Vancaskeys]

I agree...as I was editing it I thought the same thing LOL...but in person it's better.

[@kevingibson623]

the side says freedom package does that mean it has a generator and lithium package if so 320 or 620

[@annekruszka8441]

Hated the interior color, way too dark. Too pricey for me! Would have preferred just the extra seat behind driver and more storage on passenger side!

[@Vancaskeys]

Same!

[@leolaniukeulady4172]

Mercedes’ are too expensive to repair. Give me a ford, Chevy, dodge.

[@joniboulware1436]

Those tiny fridges don't cut it.

[@RedwoodsAndRain]

Great presentation but I find this rv ridiculous. The massage chairs and TWO televisions is beyond. Just stay in a hotel in Banff. The two secondary chairs take up a good third of it…wasted space. It is dark and tight. The drawers are all small and the same size. They should vary to allow for different sized items. The back windows should be awning windows allowing them to be open in the rain. I have a million other critiques if this…not the least of which is the price. Also, is it really so important to use a flashlight to walk the 6 feet to turn on the rest of the lights? I see each accessory as one more thing to go wrong. Just my 2 cents. See you next week. I’m eager to see more. 😁

[@Vancaskeys]

Haha...love the just stay in a hotel! You have some solid points!

[@chrishamilton1189]

Sitting down to shower. 200k RV, and not being able to stand. Deal breaker. No bueno

[@Michael-wg1mt]

Not a fan of that van. 4 seats, major waist for just two people. Interior colour is way to dark. Storage, or should I say what storage. Where is your kitchen stuff and food going to go, not to mention and thing you may want for the outside. Maybe you should consider looking at or at least exploring some b+ units.

[@XCX237]

It's a closet. And it's a Mercedes. Junk. No thanks. Haven't heard much good about sprinters.

[@Vancaskeys]

Fair enough!

[@jim-uu2db]

Can’t believe you would associate in any way, shape or form with La Mesa. Even just showing the company name. To me it is so stupid.

[@brianbarbarich1401]

Thanks guys.👏 Very nice RV. 🚐 Only the super rich would be able to afford this in South Africa because of our weak currency against the USD.😪 Keep well and enjoy your day. Cheers from Durban, South Africa.🇿🇦🙏🏄‍♂️

[@Vancaskeys]

Thanks Brian! We always appreciate hearing from you! And we agree it's so expensive. Definitely not in our budget.